“Christ’s teaching, which came to be known to men, not by means of violence and the sword,” they say, “but by means of non-resistance to evil, gentleness, meekness, and peaceableness, can only be diffused through the world by the example of peace, harmony and love among its followers.
“A Christian, according to the teaching of God Himself, can act only peaceably towards all men, and therefore there can be no authority able to force the Christian to act in opposition to the teaching of God and to the principal virtue of the Christian in his relation with his neighbors.
“The law of State necessity,” they say, “can force only those to change the law of God who, for the sake of earthly gains, try to reconcile the irreconcilable; but for a Christian who sincerely believe that following Christ’s teaching will give him salvation, such considerations of State can have no force.”
Tolstoy quoting a Quaker letter, Kingdom of God (emphasis mine)
It is something I have trouble comprehending. How can a Christian teach and practice non-peace while at the same time presenting a Christ of peace? How can that ever exist?
Do not allow the state, in whatever country you may live, dictate your faith and practice. Let Christ and the Spirit do that. When you do, I believe there will only be room for peace.
